Recap: Union Fall 2-1 to Red Bulls

Harrison, NJ (April 24, 2010) – An Eastern Conference rivalry began at
Red Bull Arena on Saturday, with New York (4-1-0) beating Philadelphia
(1-3-0) by a score of 2-1 on goals from Salou Ibrahim and Juan Pablo
Angel. Sebastien Le Toux scored his 4th goal of the season, but it
wasn’t enough on a beautiful day in Harrison, NJ.

It didn’t take long for scoring
opportunities to materialize on both ends of the pitch. Off a counter
attack in the opening minutes, Alejandro Moreno found a streaking Le
Toux, but the striker’s one-touch shot went right into the body of
goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul. Just minutes later, Ibrahim blasted a shot
from the edge of the box that just missed Seitz’ upper ninety. Le Toux
had another chance in the 11th minute off a combination play with
Moreno, but the Frenchman shot just wide right of the net.

Philadelphia controlled the bulk of
possession in the first 30 minutes, but were unable to break through in
the attacking third. The pace then slowed down considerably until the
final five minutes of the first half, when New York had a golden
opportunity to take the lead. Angel found his way behind Philadelphia’s
backline and a well-placed through ball over the top found New York’s
Designated Player all alone with Seitz, but the Union ‘keeper came up
with an enormous save to preserve the tie.

The two sides went into the half tied 0-0,
but the second half yielded considerably more offense. New York took the
lead in the 50th minute when Jeremy Hall’s cross into a crowded box
found Ibrahim, who headed the ball into the back of the net for his
first goal of the season and a 1-0 lead for New York.

The lead didn’t last long, as Philadelphia
struck back in the 59th minute. Moreno stayed onside to receive a
through ball along the right touchline before dribbling into the box and
sliding a perfect cross on the ground to the far post, where Le Toux
ran onto it and calmly passed Coundoul to tie the score at 1-1.

The scoring didn’t stop there though, with a
handball from Michael Orozco in the box leading to a penalty kick. In
the 67th minute, Angel stepped up and buried the PK with authority into
the lower left corner of the net.

The Union’s best chance to equalize came in
the 85th minute, when Fred cut the ball back in the box and chipped a
cross to the back post, but Jack McInerney’s header was sent wide left.

It wasn’t the result Philadelphia was
hoping for, but the club will look to rebound in just three days when
the same two teams face off again in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The
Union will resume MLS action a week from today against the LA Galaxy at
the Home Depot Center, a match Philadelphia will need to win to avoid a
deep early-season hole.